The Long Sault Rapids on the St. Lawrence west of Cornwall before they were stilled in 1957.

The name Long Sault has done double duty as the name of rapids on the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers. The name was first used to describe the location of a battle in 1660, between the French and the Iroquois at the junction of the Ottawa River. The second use of the name described a powerful current on the St. Lawrence River west of Cornwall.

Drying out the Long Sault Rapids, winter 1956 to 1957.

For years some people in Cornwall mixed the two sets of rapids up and believed that the battle between the Iroquois and the French took place on the St. Lawrence Rapids, and even named a Dollard Park, in East Cornwall after the French hero of the battle.

Work on a rock dam, shown on the middle right, to still the Rapids started in October 1956. The current was so strong that it took several attempts to close the gap in the river.

The spelling also varies, with some references calling them the “Longue Sault,” while others say “Long Sault.”

Writers have been very cavalier in locating the Rapids. The experts at Fort Wellington in Prescott, state in their labels that the Long Sault Rapids were in Cornwall, this is not surprising as a review of the contemporay literature and maps of the river were not precise. Even into the mid 20th century you can find postcards saying “The Long(ue) Sault Rapids, Cornwall. Not long ago a plaque was placed in Cornwall suggesting that the Rapids were near here.

The numerous smaller and sometimes more dangerous Rapids in the River were not identified until later, and that the whole series of Rapids along the St. Lawrence were given the generic names Long Sault and Rapids Plat.

The stone dam stilling the Rapids. The Rapids were stilled and drained from April 4, 1957 to December 11th of the same year.

People starting to explore the bottom of the Rapids, April 1957.

Don Finch climbing through pot-holes in the now drained Rapids, 1957.

The Rapids drained.

River Captain James Stephenson said when he saw the river bed that “If I’d known it’d been like that…I don’t think I’d have sailed over here.”

All of the above photographs were taken in 1957 by CCVS teacher N.L. Finch, and donated by his son Don in 2017.

“A view of Passage of the Army (British) under the Command of his excellency Major-General Amherst runt the Rapids of the St. Lawrence River for the Reduction (conquering) of Canada in the Year 1760. ” (Courtesy, Library and Archives Canada, 577)

Why does the name matter? Well an avid reader of the recent publication THE LIVING RIVER – SECRETS OF THE ST. LAWRENCE, noted that the book claims that 84 of Amherst’s men drowned in the Long Sault Rapids. If you take the Long Sault to mean all of the Rapids, this would be the case, but fortunately, it is now possible to be more precise and it appears that four men drowned in the Long Sault and 84 perished in the 14 mile long Soulanges system of Rapids (Cedars, Cascades etc.)

If you want to take an illustrated arm-chair ride down the St. Lawrence Rapids between Lachine and Prescott you can by obtaining a copy of THE LIVING RIVER – SECRETS OF THE ST. LAWRENCE, available at the Cornwall Community Museum and the Lost Villages Museum for $30. Information: cornwallhistory@outlook.com.

The Cornwall Community Museum is open throughout the fall and until Dec. 15 Wed. to Sun., 11 am to 4 pm. Information: 613 936-0280.

NB: There are only 10 copies of the book left, the publisher is out of business!

PS: If you find any other inconsistencies please email us at the above address and the matter will be explored.

To make way for Lake St. Lawrence it was necessary to relocate some 6,500 people and their homes, I was told that this house fell off the house mover on its way to its new location.

This photograph and the ones that follow were donated in 2017 by Don Finch of Phoenix (formerly) of Cornwall. Don’s father Norman L. Finch, took these photographs – he also taught Motor Mechanics at CCVS for 19 years, in which time he organized a night school driving class; he was a Captain with the SD & G Highlanders. Mr. Finch died suddenly in 1958.

RH Saunders Sam construction, 1957.

To complete the Seaway Project on time, construction took place 24 hours a day. RH Saunders Dam at night.

I am honoured with your letter of the 24 last November from New York inclosing (original spelling and grammar kept) several extracts of letters from Messrs Cox Mair and Cox complaining of the disagreeable predicament in which they then stood respecting the accounts of the 84 Regt. For this favour I return with thanks for the trouble you took, since the extracts of those letters from them, and which I received on my return from England, those extracts was I ever had of knowing, that they ever wrote a word upon the subject, and I cannot help saying that it has been a small misfortune to Lt. Col. Small and myself that those gentlemen have had too much other business to do, to pay any great degree of attention to our business and in order that you as Colonel of the Regt. may be made acquainted with those matters, since

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its from you only we can expect any redress and from you we do hope and expect relief. The state of acts which I take the liberty of inclosing with this letter, I must request you will do so good as promise, them you will be able to judge, if we have had justice doneus, by our agents.

On Saturday, September 16, some two dozen members of the community gathered at the Museum and Archives to hear a short presentation on how the author was inspired to put to paper the Mary Mack story and what she learned in the process.

Author Ginette Guy was introduced by her friend Carole Libbey and the Museum’s City Representative, Councilor Claude McIntosh, extended greetings on behalf of Mayor O’Shaughnessy and Council. Councilors Justin Towndale and Bernadette Clement were also in the house.

Guy had the following to say about Mack’s contribution to Cornwall life:
Mary Mack had no different reverence for Canada’s Governor General versus the car mechanic in Cornwall.

High fashion was part of who she was; she got that from her mother. If we were speaking of Lionel Chevrier or John Sandfield Macdonald, would we have a display of their shirts and ties! For most men fashion would not come into the picture, but for Mary Mack it did. For perspective, these are things that she wore now and then for certain functions. But, what she did and who she was was something that she wore every day.

She lived our city’s slogan: “Choose Cornwall.” She could have done anything. She had connections in Europe, Montreal and Ottawa. Some of her letters landed on the desk of Mackenzie King. She wasn’t stuck here; she chose to be here and she chose to help her community.

Reading the book you’ll realize that her life is as current now as it was then. She cared about the waterfront, and the park. She had something to say about the size of City Council and representation by ward. She worked for the cause of refugees with her friend Carine Wilson, Canada’s first female senator. Mary was not a person who would criticize for the sake of criticizing. She served ten years on City Council. She worked for other associations at all levels. She didn’t just say that things were not right; she did something to make it better. Today there is a tendency to criticize on Facebook when something negative happens. People are prone to say: “well, what do you expect, that’s Cornwall!” Had someone said that to Mary Mack, her reply would have been: “I expect the greatest things!” Her family began with nothing and worked to better themselves. For us today, many good things have already been put in place for us; the question is: “what are we doing to carry it forward?”

TV Cogeco interviewed Ginette after the book signing, while guests conversed over tea.

‘Unforgotten: Mary Mack, Cornwall’s First Lady’ is available for $15 at the Cornwall Community Museum and at the Lost Villages Museum.